Convertible folding snack table and bed-tray



Feb. 2, 1965 M. 'r. BEDOL 3,168,061

CONVERTIBLE FOLDING SNACK TABLE AND BED-TRAY Filed Feb. 26, 1964 INVENTOR. MARSHALL T. BeooL ATTOEMEY.

United States Patent 3,168,061 CONVERTIBLE FOLDING SNACK TABLE AND BED-TRAY Marshall T. Eedol, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to The lvlarshallan Manufacturing Company, leveiand, Girls,

a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 347,478 2 Claims. (61. Nth-11o} This invention relates to folding tray-tables and particularly to a convertible folding snack-table and bedtray.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a folding structure whose pants may be sequentially manipulated to provide a snack-table, a conventional tray, or a bed-tray.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated, having two separate supports of different height, whereby the tray t p may be maintained at two different distances from the surfaces on which the supports are placed.

Still another obieet is to provide a collapsible structure which may be stored in a small space and quiclcly erected when needed.

A further object is to provide a convertible folding snack table and bed-tray that may be easily and economically manufactured from sheet metal.

These, and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the structure as it appears set up as a snack table;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the convertible table, showing it in its fully folded condition, ready for storage in a small space;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the device, as it appears converted for use as a bed tray;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of one of the hinge elements to which the bed-tray legs are permanently anchored, showing a leg in its folded condition;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of one of the hinges showing one of the bed-tray legs in its open position; and,

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIG- URE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the convertible folding snack table and bed-tray that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 10.

The table top, or tray, 11, is preferably rectangular in shape, with an up-set rim 12 therearound, and is fabricated from light gauge sheet material such as a fiber, composition, plastic or metal, attractively painted, enameled, or otherwise decorated.

The tray 11, illustrated, has four spaced, resilient clamps 25 mounted on the underside of the two long edges of its rim 12, by means of rivets 32, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 6.

Reference numeral 13 broadly indicates a first support frame which is engaged by the tray clamps 25 when the device is erected to form the snack table illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The frame 13 comprises two U-shaped members having legs 15 and 16 depending from horizontal portions 1! and 18, respectively, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 2.

The legs 15 and 16 are pivotally connected, intermediate their ends, through pivot pins 19 and 20.

The frame 13 is preferably made of sheet metal shaped to form tubular stock, in order to provide a maximum 3,168,061 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 "ice of rigidity with a minimum of weight. In the preferred form, illustrated, the length of the legs 15 and 16 is such that when erected to form the chair side snack table shown in FIGURE 1, the tray top 11 will be supported 24 inches from the floor.

It will be observed, in FIGURE 2, that the U-shaped unit 17-15 is slightly smaller than the U-shaped unit 1846, so that it may be nested entirely within the plane of unit 1816 (in a second, or closed position) or pivoted to a first, or open position, as seen in FIGURE 1, wherein the legs 15 and 16 form an X-shaped supporting frame 13 for the tray 11 which is mounted thereon through the clamps 25 to form the high standing snack table.

Reference numeral 14 broadly indicates a second supporting frame for the tray 11, made up of two U-shaped leg units 21 and 22 having horizontal connecting portions 23 and 24, respectively.

The U legs 21 and 22 are flattened at their ends 28 and are permanently mounted in spaced opposition on the underside of the tray 11, by means of hinges 30 held in place by rivets 31.

Each hinge 3% has a rectangular base with an upstanding ear extending along two bounding edges to define a leg mounting friction plate 26 and a stop plate 27, at thereto.

The leg ends 28 are hinged-1y mounted in frictional engagement against the plate 26 by means of a hinge pin, or rivet 29.

The so mounted U legs 21 and 22 may be pivoted from a second or folded position, illustrated in FIGURE 2, to a first or extended position, shown in FIGURE 3, wherein they extend downwardly from the bottom face of the tray 11 to form a bed-tray which may be placed across the lap of the user with its supporting frame 14 resting on the bed surface. The length of the legs 21 and 22 is such that the tray 11 will be supported approximately 7 from the bed surface.

The hinge rivets 29 squeeze the leg ends 28 against the friction plates 26 so that the legs will be retained in any position to which they are swung. Thus, when in their second position they will remain folded against the bottom of the tray when the tray is held in a horizontal position. Similarly, they will remain against the stops 27, when in their erected, or first, position, and not swing away from the stops 27 when the tray-table is raised from its supporting surface.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 5 it will be seen that when in their erected, or first, position the legs lean outwardly and away from the center of the tray 11, as they rest against the hinge stop 28. This construction provides stability for the tray-table against end movement, or pressure, since downward lateral pressure cannot cause collapse of the supporting frame 14, because any pivoting tendency of the legs is prevented by the fact that the tray 11 must move upward before the legs can be swung back to their second positions.

FIGURE 2 shows the device in its fully collapsed condition, ready for storage. In this condition the bed-tray support unit 14 is in its second position, flat against the tray bottom, and the snack-table support unit 13 is also in its second position, with the table top 11 suspended parallel to the legs 16 and 15 by two of its rim clamps 25 which engage only the horizontal portion 18 of leg 16.

To form the snack-table, shown in FIGURE 1, the tray 11 is swung away from the leg 15, on the section 18 of leg 16, to a horizontal position. The leg 15 is then pivoted in the same direction to form the X-shaped supporting frame unit 13, with its horizontal section 17 in alignment with the clamps 25 on the far side of the rim, and secured thereto.

When the device serves as a snack-table, the legs of the 3 bed-tray suppont frame 14 remain in their second folded position, flat against the underside of the tray 11, where they are not visible.

To covert the device to the bed-tray illustrated in FIG- URE 3, the tray 11 is unclamped from the support frame 13 and the legs 21 and 22 of the second support unit 14 are swung open to their first positions.

If a conventional tray is needed, the bed-tray support unit 14 is kept in its second folded condition. The top 11 then can be used as a conventional tray, easy to carry around, and can be rested flat on a table or other fiat surface, on the folded unit 14.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof, as described and illustrated herein, is not to be considered in a limited sense, as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible folding snack-table and bed-tray, comprising in combination, a rectangular tray having a depressed bottom wall and a marginal rim, which latter extends above the plane of the bottom and laterally outward; a plurality of spaced, downwardly directed, resilient clamp members secured to the under face of the rim; two sets of paired hinge members secured -to the underface of the bottom wall, spaced longitudinally thereof, between the clamp members; a first pair of U-shaped leg members, the leg portions of which are longer than the horizontal cross portions thereof; means pivotally conmeeting said legs, intermediate their ends, in crossed relation to one another, whereby the so joined leg members may be pivoted between a first, extended or X-shaped position and a second, folded or nested position, the horizontal cross portions of the so joined U-shaped members being separably engageable with the tray rim clamp members to support the tray in a horizontal position when said paired leg members are in their first positions, and to support the tray in a vertical, dependent plane when said leg members are in their second position; a second pair of U-shaped leg members, the leg portions of which are shorter than the horizontal cross portions thereof, with the terminal end of each leg flattened to provide frictional bearing surfaces, each of said second pair of leg members being permanently and pivotally engaged through its terminal bearing surface with one of the paired hinge members; the so mounted second pair of leg members being pivotable between a first, extended position wherein they depend from the underside of the tray, and a second or folded position wherein they lie flat against the underside of the tray bottom wall; the tray serving-as a snack-table when attached to the first pair of U-shaped leg members, in their first position, and as a bedatray, when detached therefrom, with the second pair of U-shaped leg members in their first position.

2. A convertible folding snack-table and bed-tray as defined in claim 1, wherein each hinge member comprises a single sheet metal blank, shaped to provide a flat base bounded along one edge by a first upstanding wall or hearing plate, adapted to permanently receive the flattened bearing surface of a leg member in pivotal, frictional engagement; and a second upstanding wall at to the first wall, serving as a stop for limiting the pivoting action of the leg beyond a predetermined point.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,770,955 7/30 Storm 108-8 2,514,735 7/50 Wilson et a1 108119 3,080,202 3/63 Franzene 108-419 3,083,066 3/63 Bedol 108-50 3,106,295 10/63 Berlin 211-132 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONVERTIBLE FOLDING SNACK-TABLE AND BED-TRAY, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A RECTANGULAR TRAY HAVING A DEPRESSED BOTTOM WALL AND A MARGINAL RIM, WHICH LATTER EXTENDS ABOVE THE PLANE OF THE BOTTOM AND LATERALLY OUTWARD; A PLURALITY OF SPACED, DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED, RESILIENT CLAMP MEMBERS SECURED TO THE UNDER FACE OF THE RIM; TWO SETS OF PAIRED HINGE MEMBERS SECURED TO THE UNDERFACE OF THE BOTTOM WALL, SPACED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, BETWEEN THE CLAMP MEMBERS; A FIRST PAIR OF U-SHAPED LEG MEMBERS, THE LEG PORTIONS OF WHICH ARE LONGER THAN THE HORIZONTAL CROSS PORTIONS THEREOF; MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID LEGS, INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, IN CROSSED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, WHEREBY THE SO JOINED LEG MEMBERS MAY BE PIVOTED BETWEEN A FIRST, EXTENDED OR X-SHAPED POSITION AND A SECOND, FOLDED OR NESTED POSITION, THE HORIZNTAL CROSS PORTIONS OF THE SO JOINED U-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING SEPARATELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TRAY RIM CLAMP MEMBERS TO SUPPOR THE TRAY IN A HORIONTAL POSITION WHEN SAID PAIRED LEG MEMBERS ARE IN THEIR FIRST POSITIONS, AND TO SUPPORT THE TRAY IN A VERTICAL, DEPENDENT PLANE WHEN SAID LEG EMBERS ARE IN THEIR SECOND POSITION; A SECOND PAIR OF U-SHAPED LEG MEMBERS, THE LEG PORTIONS OF WHICH ARE SHORTER THAN THE HORIZONTAL CROSS PORTIONS THEREOF, WITH THE TERMINAL END OF EACH LEG FLATTENED TO PROVIDE FRICTIONAL BEARING SURFACES, EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF LEG MEMBERS BEING PERMANENTLY AND PIVOTALLY ENGAGED THROUGH ITS TERMINAL BEARING SURFACE WITH ONE OF THE PAIRED HINGE MEMBERS; THE SO MOUNTED SECOND PAIR OF LEG MEMBERS BEING PIVOTABLE BETWEEN A FIRST, EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN THEY DEPEND FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAY, AND A SECOND OR FOLDED POSITION WHEREBY THEY LIE FLAT AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAY BOTTOM WALL; THE TRAY SERVING AS A SNACK-TABLE WHEN ATTACHED TO THE FIRST PAIR OF U-SHAPED LEG MEMBERS, IN THEIR FIRST POSITION, AND AS A BED-TRAY, WHEN DETACHED THEREFROM, WITH THE SECOND PAIR OF U-SHAPED LEG MEMBERS IN THEIR FIRST POSITION. 